Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Dehydrated dog food continues to grow in popularity as more dog owners are becoming aware of its benefits. This type of food is prepared by slowly removing moisture from whole foods at low heat. This process helps food retain more nutrients and keep its natural flavors.
More and more dog food companies are jumping on board the dehydrated dog food trend, and it can be difficult finding a trustworthy and reliable brand. So, we’re here to help you decide on making the switch to dehydrated dog food.
We have reviews of some of the most popular dehydrated dog food recipes and also break down the differences between different types of dog food. By the end of reading this article, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision on feeding your dog dehydrated dog food.
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Best Overall
The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated D
Limited ingredient diet
No corn, wheat, or soy
Human-grade ingredients
Click to Save 30% Use code PETKEEN30
Best Value
I and Love and You Stir & Boom Raw Raw Turk Boom Ba Dinner Grain-Free
Limited-ingredient recipe
Low-glycemic ingredients
Grain-free and gluten-free
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Premium Choice
Spot & Tango Unkibble Beef & Barley
Eco-friendly packaging
Convenient delivery service
Made with fresh and whole ingredients
Click to Save 50%
The Honest Kitchen Turkey Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food
Suitable for large dog breeds
Contains superfoods
No meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers
Click to Save 30% Use code PETKEEN30
Addiction Homestyle Venison & Cranberry Dinner Raw Dehydrated Dog Food
Great for dogs with chicken and beef allergies
Rich in antioxidants and prebiotics
Promotes healthy skin and coat
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The 9 Best Dehydrated Dog Foods
- The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food – Best Overall
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Use code PETKEEN30 to SAVE 30% on your first order over $30 on thehonestkitchen.com
First Five Ingredients: Dehydrated chicken, organic quinoa, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dehydrated spinach, dried parsley
Caloric Content: 516 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 16%
The Honest Kitchen’s Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food is a great place to start when stepping into the world of dehydrated dog food. The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 and is the world’s first human-grade pet food company. It’s a reliable brand that has had just one recall in 2013.
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- Use code PETKEEN30 to SAVE 30% on your first order over $30 on thehonestkitchen.com
This particular recipe is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies because it contains a very short list of healthy, human-grade ingredients. It lists dehydrated chicken as its first ingredient and contains a moderate proportion of protein for dogs of all life stages, including pregnant and nursing dogs.
The formula also doesn’t contain any preservatives, animal by-products, fillers, corn, wheat, or soy. The use of high-quality ingredients does make this dog food more expensive than kibble and other dehydrated dog food brands. However, you can trust that your dog’s eating a very healthy and nutritious meal, so we still consider this recipe to be the best overall dehydrated dog food.
Pros
Limited ingredient diet
No corn, wheat, or soy
Human-grade ingredients
Appropriate for all life stages
Cons
Not the most affordable option
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider trying I and Love and You Stir & Boom Raw Raw Turk Boom Ba Dinner Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food. One 5½-pound bag makes 36 pounds of food, while The Honest Kitchen’s 10-pound box makes 40 pounds of food. This yield comparison alone makes it the best dehydrated dog food for the money you pay.
Limited ingredient diet
No corn, wheat, or soy
Human-grade ingredients
Appropriate for all life stages
- Limited ingredient diet
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Human-grade ingredients
- Appropriate for all life stages
Not the most affordable option
- Not the most affordable option
First Five Ingredients: Turkey, sweet potatoes, yellow split peas, carrots, cabbage
Caloric Content: 327 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 32%
Crude Fat: 9%
The recipe is fairly simple, so it’s great for dogs with food sensitivities. It also contains all the delicious and nutritious foods that dogs typically love, including turkey, eggs, sweet potatoes, and carrots. The formula contains low-glycemic ingredients to help with weight management, and it’s also grain-free and gluten-free.
The dehydrated food doesn’t hold together very well and can easily turn to powder, making the dog food texture very mushy when it’s re-hydrated.
Pros
Limited-ingredient recipe
Low-glycemic ingredients
Grain-free and gluten-free
Cons
Disintegrates easily
3. Spot & Tango Unkibble Beef & Barley – Premium Choice
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First Five Ingredients: Beef, barley, flax, carrots, green beans
Caloric Content: 452 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 16%
Spot & Tango is a subscription-based dog food service that ships customized portions of dog food straight to your door. For the price that you pay, you receive high-quality dog food, access to customer service, and the convenience of never having to shop around for dog food.
Limited-ingredient recipe
Low-glycemic ingredients
Grain-free and gluten-free
- Limited-ingredient recipe
- Low-glycemic ingredients
- Grain-free and gluten-free
Disintegrates easily
- Disintegrates easily
The packaging is also eco-friendly and made with compostable and recyclable materials, and you can customize your deliveries so that you’re always ordering the right amount of food.
Spot & Tango has its own special Fresh Dry process that retains the nutrients in each ingredient and preserves their natural flavors. The Beef & Barley recipe is always made with fresh and whole ingredients, and it doesn’t contain any preservatives. It’s also GMO and hormone-free and suitable for both puppies and adult dogs.
At this time, Spot & Tango only ships within the US, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. You also have a 2-week trial period, which may not be enough time for you to decide if you want to make the switch to dehydrated dog food.
Pros
Eco-friendly packaging
Convenient delivery service
Made with fresh and whole ingredients
No preservatives, GMOs, or hormones
Cons
Only ships to contiguous US states
- The Honest Kitchen Turkey Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food – Best for Puppies
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First Five Ingredients: Dehydrated turkey, organic flaxseed, dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated spinach, dehydrated carrots
Caloric Content: 488 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 29%
Crude Fat: 18%
The Honest Kitchen Turkey Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is a great recipe for puppies because it contains a sufficient amount of protein, calories, and nutrients to promote developmental growth. It’s a suitable option for puppies of all breeds, including large breed puppies.
Eco-friendly packaging
Convenient delivery service
Made with fresh and whole ingredients
No preservatives, GMOs, or hormones
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Convenient delivery service
- Made with fresh and whole ingredients
- No preservatives, GMOs, or hormones
Only ships to contiguous US states
- Only ships to contiguous US states
Feeding your puppy this recipe is a great way to introduce healthy foods. It contains delicious whole ingredients and nutrient-dense superfoods, such as spinach and flaxseeds. All the ingredients are human-grade, and you don’t have to worry about any meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers.
With dehydrated dog food, you’ll have to expect prices to be more expensive than traditional kibble. This recipe is no exception. It’s relatively expensive, even amongst other dehydrated dog food competitors. However, the formula is very clean, and it’s easily digestible for a puppy’s sensitive stomach. It’s also very flavorful and delicious, so picky puppies will enjoy their mealtimes.
Pros
Suitable for large dog breeds
Contains superfoods
No meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers
Cons
Relatively expensive
Addiction Homestyle Venison & Cranberry Dinner Raw Dehydrated Dog Food is a great option for dogs with poultry or beef allergies. Along with using lean meat protein, the formula contains a nutritious blend of foods. It’s rich in antioxidants and prebiotics to support the immune system and digestive system. The recipe also contains coconut oil, which promotes healthy skin and coat.
Suitable for large dog breeds
Contains superfoods
No meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers
- Suitable for large dog breeds
- Contains superfoods
- No meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers
Relatively expensive
- Relatively expensive
First Five Ingredients: Venison, oats, potatoes, carrots, coconut oil
Caloric Content: 455 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 22%
Crude Fat: 12%
This ingredient list does contain a lot of different fruit, so if your dog doesn’t typically enjoy fruit as treats, it may not like this particular recipe. The dehydrated form of this dog food is also on the powdery side, so it tends to have a mushy consistency when rehydrated. This can benefit senior dogs or dogs with dental issues, but other dogs may not enjoy the texture.
Pros
Great for dogs with chicken and beef allergies
Rich in antioxidants and prebiotics
Promotes healthy skin and coat
Cons
A lot of fruit
Mushy consistency
Canisource Grand Cru Red Meat Dehydrated Dog Food is a fan favorite for dogs that love red meat. Pork and beef are the first two ingredients, and the ingredient list contains other healthy foods, including whole grains, apples, and flaxseed.
Great for dogs with chicken and beef allergies
Rich in antioxidants and prebiotics
Promotes healthy skin and coat
- Great for dogs with chicken and beef allergies
- Rich in antioxidants and prebiotics
- Promotes healthy skin and coat
A lot of fruit
Mushy consistency
- A lot of fruit
- Mushy consistency
First Five Ingredients: Pork, beef, white rice, whole barley, rolled oats
Caloric Content: 480 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 27%
Crude Fat: 16%
All the ingredients are human-grade and the recipe doesn’t contain any animal by-products and artificial colors and flavors.
The pieces tend to be very tough, so it may not be a good option for senior dogs, dogs with dental issues, and dogs that eat quickly without chewing. You should add water to the food to rehydrate and soften it. However, it can take a long time for the pieces of food to soak up moisture.
Pros
Pork and beef are the first ingredients
Human-grade food
No animal by-products
No artificial colors and flavors
Cons
Tough dry pieces
Takes a long time to soften
Beef lovers are going to love this recipe. The first ingredient is beef, and the next four ingredients are beef organs. The beef is also high-quality. It comes from 100% grass-fed cows that were humanely raised without any added hormones, antibiotics, or grains.
Pork and beef are the first ingredients
Human-grade food
No animal by-products
No artificial colors and flavors
- Pork and beef are the first ingredients
- Human-grade food
- No animal by-products
- No artificial colors and flavors
Tough dry pieces
Takes a long time to soften
- Tough dry pieces
- Takes a long time to soften
First Five Ingredients: Beef, beef heart, beef bone, beef liver, beef kidney
Caloric Content: 386 kcal ME/cup
Crude Protein: 38%
Crude Fat: 39%
The recipe is very simple and only contains one type of meat protein, so dogs with a lot of food allergies can eat it as long as they don’t have a beef allergy. It doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. The formula is also very high in protein, so it’s a great option for high-energy and athletic dogs.
With that being said, low-energy dogs should refrain from this food because the recipe is high in fat. For the same reason, it’s not the best option for overweight dogs and dogs needing to lose some weight.
Pros
100% grass-fed beef
High protein for high-energy dogs
No artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
Not for low-energy dogs
High fat content
If you’re looking for a healthy and convenient option, I and Love and You Stir Mix-A-Little Beef & Bone Broth Dehydrated Dog Food is an easy way to feed your dog nutritious dehydrated food. It comes in a convenient single-portion cup, and all you have to do is add a little water and stir.
100% grass-fed beef
High protein for high-energy dogs
No artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- 100% grass-fed beef
- High protein for high-energy dogs
- No artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Not for low-energy dogs
High fat content
- Not for low-energy dogs
- High fat content
First Five Ingredients: Beef, sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, pea flour, chicken
Caloric Content: 312 kcal/can
Crude Protein: 30%
Crude Fat: 14%
The first ingredient is 100% real beef, and all the ingredients are human-grade. The recipe also doesn’t contain any carbohydrate fillers, soy, grain, and artificial colors and flavors.
The dehydrated pieces do run on the smaller size, so when you mix water with the food, it tends to have a texture similar to mashed potatoes. Some dogs love it, while others won’t. If your dog doesn’t like the texture, then you can always try using it as a meal topper instead of the main meal.
Pros
Convenient packaging
Human-grade ingredients
No carbohydrate fillers
No artificial colors or flavors
Cons
Mushy consistency
Only Natural Pet EasyRaw Human Grade Dehydrated Raw Dog Food Formula is great for dogs with beef and chicken allergies. It only uses lamb as a meat protein, and it has a simple ingredient list containing nutritious whole foods.
Convenient packaging
Human-grade ingredients
No carbohydrate fillers
No artificial colors or flavors
- Convenient packaging
- Human-grade ingredients
- No carbohydrate fillers
- No artificial colors or flavors
Mushy consistency
- Mushy consistency
First Five Ingredients: Lamb, sweet potatoes, carrots, whole eggs, broccoli
Caloric Content: 372 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 22%
Crude Fat: 16%
All the ingredients are also human-grade, and the formula doesn’t have any artificial colors, preservatives, or animal by-products. It’s gently cooked to make the food easily digestible while retaining a high amount of nutrients. The recipe does contain a significant amount of celery, and the smell can be relatively strong and deterring to some dogs.
On top of being a high-quality formula, the packaging is also eco-friendly. The compact design is intended to lower carbon emissions by making shipping more efficient.
Pros
Lamb is only meat protein
Simple ingredient list
No artificial colors or preservatives
Eco-friendly packaging
Cons
Strong celery smell
Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Best Dehydrated Dog Food?
Dog food has become more complex over the years. Consumers don’t just have to choose between dry food and wet food. You can now find dehydrated dog food, freeze-dried dog food, and air-dried dog food.
Lamb is only meat protein
Simple ingredient list
No artificial colors or preservatives
Eco-friendly packaging
- Lamb is only meat protein
- Simple ingredient list
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Eco-friendly packaging
Strong celery smell
- Strong celery smell
Sometimes, these terms get used interchangeably, but they do have differences. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
Air-Dried Dog Food
Air-dried dog food is a slow process where raw ingredients are placed in drying areas or chambers that evaporate moisture. Fresh air constantly gets pumped and circulated in these chambers until the moisture of the dog food reaches a certain low percentage.
This process eliminates the need for artificial preservatives because it kills dangerous bacteria. It also leaves a good amount of nutrients and flavor in the food. It tends to have a longer shelf-life than dehydrated dog food.
Dehydrated Dog Food
Dehydrated dog food gets prepared similarly to air-dried food. However, it uses more heat to get rid of moisture. Therefore, dehydrated dog food can’t be considered fully raw because it gets slightly cooked in the process. At the same time, it’s not fully cooked and still preserves a lot of natural flavor and nutrients.
Freeze-Dried Dog Food
This type of dog food removes moisture while the food is kept frozen. The raw food first gets frozen. Then, a combination of low temperatures and pressure extracts the moisture from the food.
This process enables freeze-dried food to have the same nutritional components as its frozen forms. The only difference is the absence of moisture.
Conclusion
According to our reviews, The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food is the best dehydrated dog food because it contains high-quality ingredients and most dogs can easily digest it. I and Love and You Stir & Boom Raw Raw Turk Boom Ba Dinner Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is a great affordable option that has delicious and nutrient-dense natural foods in it. Spot & Tango Unkibble Beef & Barley is a wonderful subscription based option that is made with fresh and whole ingredients.
Overall, dehydrated dog food is great for dogs with food sensitivities and a reliable way to make sure your dog’s getting the most out of its food.
- Next on your reading list: 10 Best Low-Calorie Dog Food — Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: tanyastock, Shutterstock
